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Cardoso: Reforms Have Sparked Global Investors’ Renewed Appetite for Nigeria

*Adebayo Ogunlesi: Nigeria now exciting to investors

*Indicates interest in gas, aviation, renewable energy, maritime sectors

*Analysts back CBN’s assumption fixed income market control, say reform to reinforce transparency, policy credibility

Nume Ekeghe and Dike Onwuamaeze

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, yesterday, said Nigeria’s consistent policy stance and transparency reforms in the foreign exchange (FX) market have strengthened investor confidence, spurred renewed interest from global players, and supported the accretion of the country’s external reserves.
He said this yesterday at the inaugural edition of the CBN Governor’s Lecture held at the Lagos Business School, where he challenged young Nigerians to see themselves not merely as spectators in the economic debate but as the very subjects upon which the country’s future stability and prosperity depend.

This comes as renowned global investor and Chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Adebayo Ogunlesi, described Nigeria as an increasingly attractive destination for international investment, citing recent economic reforms and government-backed initiatives that have reshaped the business climate.
Also yesterday, the CBN’s decision to assume full control of the Nigerian Fixed Income Market from November 2025, received support from analysts who spoke with THISDAY. The financial market analysts held the view that the move would strengthen transparency, restore regulatory clarity, and sharpen the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission.

Speaking on the theme “Next Generation Leadership in Monetary Policy & Nation Building,” the lecture to mark the launch of what the CBN described as its Knowledge Acceleration and Thought Leadership Series, a platform to bridge policy and practice while cultivating values-driven leadership.
Turning to reforms under his administration, the CBN Governor noted that clearing the inherited forex backlog was a decisive move that restored credibility and signalled to markets that the Bank was serious about reforms. According to him, trust in Nigeria’s financial system has grown stronger because promises were kept.
“If we expect people to continue to trust and invest in our economy, you’ve got to keep your promises. That particular action contributed in no small way to the rise in foreign exchange reserves we have been able to accomplish,” he added.

On the forex market, Cardoso highlighted the adoption of a B-Matching electronic trading system, which he described as a game-changer. The platform, he said, has ensured greater transparency by allowing all participants to view and transact at the same market-determined rates, reducing information asymmetry that previously created distortions.
“In the past, some had access to certain information while others didn’t. Now, with the B-Matching system, that gap has been significantly reduced. The market has almost become a perfect market, and this openness builds the trust investors require when coming into our economy,” he said.

Reflecting on progress since his assumption of office, Cardoso stressed that consistent policies and firm commitment to the CBN’s mandate have placed Nigeria on a stronger footing.
“Two years later, consistent messaging, consistent policies, doing all the right things, not compromising in your mandate, has taken us to a good place,” he said.

According to him, the evidence of renewed confidence is clear in reports by international rating agencies, multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, and feedback from global banks. He pointed out that top investment firms which had previously stayed on the sidelines, are now revisiting Nigeria with keen interest.
“We have seen an incredible increase in appetite for Nigeria. BlackRock, among others, is showing interest. Many who were watching from the sidelines are now saying, This is the time to get in.’ In one word, the future for Nigeria is bright,” he declared.

Furthermore, Cardoso underscored the CBN’s long-term commitment to discipline, innovation and inclusiveness, stressing that sustainable prosperity would depend on leadership rooted in credibility and accountability.
He added: “For our part, rest assured that at the Central Bank we will not be deterred in building an institution you can trust, one that is disciplined, innovative, and steadfast in its commitment to Nigeria’s future.
Stability is not an end in itself, but the foundation on which we must build growth, inclusion, and renewal. The journey ahead demands credibility emanating from discipline, because credibility once lost is hard to regain; innovation, because tomorrow’s problems cannot be solved with yesterday’s tools; and inclusiveness, because policy means little if it does not improve the lives of ordinary people. This is what next-generation leadership requires: leadership that is data-driven yet people-centred, courageous yet humble, visionary yet accountable, determined to build not just for today but for generations unborn.

In the meantime, Adebayo Ogunlesi, who spoke during a recent interview after visiting President Bola Tinubu, highlighted Nigeria’s progress in areas such as subsidy removal, tax reform, refinery operations, and road ownership unification. According to him, these reforms signal a fundamental transformation in Nigeria’s economy and create fresh opportunities for global investors.

“Nigeria is now a place that is exciting to invest in, and that’s what we talked to Mr. President about. And of course, as you would expect, he was very encouraging of international investments in Nigeria,” Ogunlesi said.

Ogunlesi, whose company invests heavily in energy, ports, and aviation globally, noted that Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves, growing aviation sector, and potential for renewable energy projects offer strong investment opportunities.

Acknowledging his firm’s operations in neighbouring ports in Cotonou and Lomé, he admitted to the President that Nigeria had so far been overlooked in that area.

Tinubu, he said, encouraged him to redirect such investments home, and the company is now considering Nigerian port infrastructure as a priority.

He said, “The aviation sector is also an area of interest to us. I confessed to Mr. President that one of our companies has ports in Cotonou, and it has a port in Lome, none in Nigeria. So I asked for his forgiveness and understanding, and being the gentleman that he was, he forgave me, but said you have to bring port investment to Nigeria. So that’s another area we’re looking at. Renewables, that’s another area. So lots of investment opportunities in Nigeria. You just have to be serious about making the right moves.”

“People describe me as the guy who bought Gatwick Airport. I did not personally buy the airport,” he explained.

Speaking in the same vein, another International Investor, Mr. Hakeem Bello-Osagie, said it would be a great signal for the international community to invest in Nigeria when Nigerians, both in the country and in diaspora, start investing in the country.

“We thanked President Tinubu for his policies that have made Nigeria investible and we give him every assurance to the president and Nigerian people that we will do our very best in creating a fast growing Nigeria, which will achieve its objectives,” Bello-Osagie said.

The Executive President, National Revenue Service, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, noted that President Tinubu has done fundamental reform, which has invited all these is encouraging people to invest in the country.

He said: “We have done the fundamental and the next thing for us is to realise export led economy, which is why you have seen these great Nigerian (Ogunlesi) who is committed and Mr. President has given the go ahead.

“So, the only thing I can say is that hope is on the rise.”

Meanwhile, the CBN’s decision to assume full control of the Nigerian Fixed Income Market from November 2025 has been welcomed by analysts, who argue that the policy will strengthen transparency, restore regulatory clarity, and sharpen the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission.

The move, announced in a circular signed by Okey Umeano, Acting Director of the Financial Markets Department, represents the first phase of a phased reform strategy that would see the apex bank directly oversee both the trading platform and settlement of fixed income transactions.

According to the CBN, the objective was to “strengthen market integrity, streamline operations, and establish a unified regulatory framework that ensures end-to-end visibility and oversight of fixed income transactions.”

Analysts note that the reforms were expected to curtail the autonomy of private platforms such as FMDQ, whose role in the trading and settlement of sovereign debt instruments has often raised questions about transparency and price discovery.

Head of Consulting at Agusto Consulting Limited, Jimi Ogbobine, said: “ With the new policy by the CBN, the FMDQ will now have to focus entirely on non-sovereign debt instruments. This could become a pivotal moment for the Nigerian debt market as it will lead FMDQ to focus more on market development activities and galvanise stakeholders across board in growing other instruments such as green bonds. It could also propel FMDQ into driving initiatives that will deepen market activities in debt market instruments like sub national bonds, corporate bonds, commercial papers and even attracting listings of corporate bonds from other African companies.”

Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory, Mr. Tilewa Adebanjo, noted that by consolidating oversight of sovereign debt instruments under the CBN, the apex bank would be better positioned to align fixed income operations with broader macroeconomic objectives, particularly price stability and liquidity management.

He said: “A move in the right direction to ensure monetary policy effectiveness and transparency in the management of money supply.”

A senior dealer at a Tier-1 bank, who requested anonymity, said the reform was inevitable, given the CBN’s responsibility to ensure monetary stability.

“This transition will alter the operating landscape for FMDQ,” the dealer remarked. The central bank’s jurisdiction rightly extends to money market instruments such as Treasury Bills, FX derivatives, and commercial papers. FMDQ will still have scope to operate in non-sovereign instruments like corporate bonds and sub-national debt under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). But in sovereign debt, regulatory clarity was always going to prevail.” He added.

Another market source stressed that the handling of naira forwards in recent years exposed gaps that underscored the need for tighter oversight. “What we are seeing is the CBN correcting a structural misalignment. The FMDA had historically worked closely with the central bank before the shift in autonomy under FMDQ. That autonomy created space for inefficiencies that are now being closed.”

*Adebayo Ogunlesi: Nigeria now exciting to investors *Indicates interest in gas, aviation, renewable energy, maritime sectors *Analysts back CBN’s assumption fixed income market control, say reform to reinforce transparency, policy

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Court Extends Account Freezing Order Over Osun LG Funds

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, yesterday extended an interim injunction restraining the United Bank for Africa (UBA) from allowing withdrawals from 30 bank accounts into which withheld allocations for Osun State local governments were lodged by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The presiding judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola, said he renewed the order to ensure that all parties in the case, Suit No. 1/1149/2025 between the Attorney General of Osun State, the Osun State Local Government Service Commission and United Bank for Africa Plc, are granted a fair hearing.

While UBA’s counsel was not in court, but Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), appearing for the dismissed APC council chairmen, was present after filing an application for joinder.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), opposed the move, noting that he had only just received two fresh applications from the ex-chairmen’s legal team, one seeking joinder and another challenging the court’s territorial jurisdiction, filed on Thursday and Friday.

He stressed that he needed time to examine the documents, arguing that the former APC chairmen lacked locus standi until their joinder was formally granted.

“Their application has not been decided upon; they remain outsiders to this case,” he said.

Adetunmbi also pressed the need to extend the interim order, stating, “I received the two applications yesterday and today. I must be given time to study them and file my responses in law.”

However, Gbadamosi rejected the suggestion that his clients were “strangers”, contending that they were directly affected by the Interim Injunction of 26 September 2025 and had a right to be heard.

The Senior Advocate in an application dated October 2, 2025, not only sought to join the suit but also challenged the jurisdiction of the Oyo State High Court, citing several cases to argue that a court cannot extend the life of an order once its jurisdiction is in dispute.

Further evidence was provided to the court through a supplementary affidavit sworn by Mrs. Rachael Abidemi Aluko, Head of Local Government Administration in Boluwaduro Local Government.

She alleged that some individuals were attempting to misappropriate local government funds despite the court’s subsisting order.

She referred to a letter, undated, sent to UBA by Mr. Adebayo Oyekanmi and Mr. Lasisi Gbadebo Oyebode, who styled themselves as Chairman and Treasurer of Boluwaduro Local Government.

In the letter, they instructed the bank to deduct 15 per cent of statutory allocations and remit the sum into the account of a private law firm.

Mrs. Aluko dismissed the letter as illegitimate, pointing out that neither individual was entitled to issue such directives.

She clarified that Mr. Oyebode was not an employee of Boluwaduro Local Government and that the role of Treasurer does not exist in Osun’s local government framework.

She added that under the 2025 Guidelines for Local Government Administration in Osun State, only the Director of Finance and the Director of Administration and General Services are recognised as authorised signatories to local government accounts.

Aluko identified the current officers holding those positions and submitted exhibits confirming their legitimacy.

The plaintiffs reiterated that the substantive question of who the authentic local government chairmen are is already before the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/773/2025.

They cautioned that any premature disbursement of the funds would frustrate the course of justice.

After the proceedings, Adetunmbi (SAN), counsel to the Osun Attorney-General, briefed journalists.

He revealed that a related case concerning the disputed allocations is fixed for hearing before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 7 October, explaining that “the essence of today’s ruling is to secure the funds until the Supreme Court gives its verdict next Tuesday.”

“Those who effected the payments knew the case was pending at the Supreme Court; they should have respected the apex court by holding back.

“Let the Supreme Court deliver its decision, and everyone will abide by it. But to disburse in the meantime is unacceptable. As I earlier pointed out in court, there is a letter instructing that 15 per cent of the withheld allocations from March to September, amounting to billions of naira, be paid as legal fees to a private individual.

“By what authority? By what process? Without the preservation order, the remainder of the funds would already have disappeared.”

On the new applications, he said, “They were filed only yesterday and today. I must have sufficient time to respond. The court has rightly extended the interim order to preserve the funds in contention.”

On the issue of joinder, he stated, “We shall oppose it. These individuals have no business in this matter.”

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, yesterday extended an interim injunction restraining the United Bank for Africa (UBA) from allowing withdrawals from 30 bank accounts

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In First Private Investor JV, Dangote Begins $2.5bn Urea Fertiliser Manufacturing Plant in Ethiopia

*Says in 5 years, 3 million metric tons per annum facility to make country biggest agric nation in Africa

*Oshiomhole: I prefer Dangote Refinery’s monopoly to petrol importation

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

In a record-breaking joint venture partnership between an indigenous African private investor and a government, the Dangote Group has taken its investment on the continent to a greater level with the commencement of a $2.5 billion joint urea fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia, with a capacity to produce three million metric tons of the product per annum (mtpa).

This emerged as Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, yesterday, declared his support for Dangote Refinery in the heat of its disagreement with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Africa’s richest man and President/Group Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote disclosed the latest investment in Ethiopia during his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project in the country.

Dangote said the project, which is a partnership between the Dangote Group and the Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the strategic investment arm of the Government of Ethiopia, would make the country the biggest agricultural nation on the African continent.
“I am delighted to welcome you all to this historic groundbreaking ceremony of the $2.5 Billion, 3 Million Metric Tonne Urea Fertiliser Production Complex here, in Gode, Ethiopia. This new plant is a partnership between the Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the strategic investment arm of the Government of Ethiopia”, he said.

“It is a new dawn, marking the first time, a private investor from Africa is entering into a partnership with an African country to build an industrial complex” Dangote stressed.
He stated that the partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings represents a pivotal moment in their shared vision to industrialize Africa and achieve food security across the continent.
According to Dangote, the strategic location of Gode, combined with Ethiopia’s abundant natural gas resources from the Hilal and Calub reserves, makes this an ideal location for what will become one of the world’s largest fertilizer complexes.

He said Dangote Group was committed to bringing its decades of experience in large-scale industrial projects to ensure that the venture becomes a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s industrial transformation and a catalyst for agricultural productivity throughout the region.

“We recognise the country’s plan to expand cultivated land, and this project will aid agricultural transformation in Ethiopia and neighboring countries.

“I want to state at this juncture that this project is just the beginning as we intend to invest in the production of other types of fertilizers including ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK and calcium ammonium nitrate, to support this aspiration.

“This will further cement Ethiopia’s position as a regional fertilizer production hub. With this and other investments, Ethiopia will be on track to reach its fertilizer application target of 80kg per hectare. Your Excellency, it is my firm belief that with this project, within five years, Ethiopia will become the biggest agricultural nation on the African continent”, the billionaire investor stated.

He noted that the latest investment in urea fertiliser project was the group’s second industrial investment in Ethiopia, adding that their subsidiary, Dangote Cement, has been active in Ethiopia for over a decade with a 2.5Mta cement plant in Mugher.

“We have announced a $400 million investment plan for a second production line at the cement plant, a move that would double the facility’s annual output”, he said.

He said Dangote Group’s investments across Africa were driven by the firm belief that only Africans can develop Africa because of their understanding of the terrain; the challenges, culture, as well as common language.

He maintained that his group was deeply committed to driving Africa’s economic surge from a continent heavily reliant on imports to one that is ultimately self-sufficient in producing finished goods.

He said the Dangote Groyp believes that manufacturing is crucial to Africa’s economic future and transformation.

As Africa’s leading indigenous industrial conglomerate, Dangote said the group’s cement business – Dangote Cement, has a total installed capacity of 55Mta and currently operates in 11 African countries.

Dangote specially thanked their Chief Host and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, and his cabinet for creating an investment-friendly environment amongst other enablers, which he said, now draws investments from across the world into the country.

According to him, Ethiopia today is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa, as a result of the reforms and liberalisation of its economy.

Through these far-reaching reforms, Dangote said Ethiopia has opened up key sectors to private investments, thereby creating opportunities that now attract global investors.

“No nation can advance industrially without having a secure energy base. Congratulations on this landmark achievement. All these have transformed Ethiopia to a gateway for regional and global trade/investment on the continent. I never get tired of visiting this beautiful country and seeing its transformation with each visit. I must congratulate His Excellency and his cabinet for his commitment, energy and vision for his people and nation,” he added.

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview on ARISE News, Oshiomhole, a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), hailed the Dangote Refinery, stressing that the priority should be creating jobs locally rather than depending on foreign imports.

The former Edo State Governor also described the refinery’s challenges and the labour dispute as “a very complex issue on a good day.”

Commenting on unionisation of workers, Oshiomhole said, “I believe that it is not even a constitutional right. It is a God-given right for human beings to associate in pursuance of their common interests as defined by them. These are hard core values I subscribe to and they also were guaranteed to the Nigeria constitution under section 40.”

He maintained that the escalation of the strike by PENGASSAN was uncalled for, stressing that it risked harming other workers and the wider economy.

“What I’m not sure is right is the ease with which PENGASSAN resorted to escalating the matter to a secondary level, what you call the secondary solidarity, to a point of shutting down the oil sector. I think that it is to protect a particular set of workers you do not then risk the job of several other workers.

“For example, those people selling tomatoes who can’t get for it to buy because there’s a quarrel between one Dangote refinery as a company and one union called PENGASSAN. Those are things I thought that PENGASSAN ought to take into account and pursue this principle.”

On Dangote’s refinery operations, Oshiomhole noted that the company was still in a delicate growth stage and should be given all the support, instead being disrupted.

“I know that Dangote was commissioned just before President Buhari left office, but it commenced production several months after. So basically about a year, a year and a half. Given the size of the business and all the controversies and issues arising from where you get your crude, whether NNPC sells to you, whether ROC can sell the crude overseas, you pay a premium before you can get it. All of those issues are still there. I thought that PENGASSAN should recognise that an employer has to resist, mature, be strong enough to guarantee good pay and jobs,” he added.

On the broader debate about Dangote’s role in the market, Oshiomhole was unequivocal: “I really think that Dangote Refinery has faced too many pressure points that we begin to wonder. I mean, when people say Dangote Refinery is a monopoly, I’m like, would you prefer a monopoly that creates jobs in Nigeria than an import monopoly, which is the PPPRA?”

He added, “What I know everywhere in the world is that unions support industrial policies that encourage local investment. Where they have located here, and they have started producing, we can go and organise their workers.”

On strengthening unions, Oshiomhole pointed to lapses in government oversight. “There’s is missing the role of the government, of the Ministry of Labor. You know, if you look at the labor laws, there is enough room for the Ministry of Labor to ensure that the process and procedures are observed before you invoke that weapon. But oftentimes this is lost.”

He also raised concerns about labour practices in Nigeria’s private sector, particularly in banks. “It shocks me that as we speak, about 60% or more of bank employees are contract staff. What it means is that these employees who dress well as if they are bankers, when they are thrown out, they have no gratuity. They are contract staff. They are not employees of the bank. Those for me are practices that must be stopped.”

Oshiomhole accused some unions of being compromised. “What I found out later is that they just pay what I call protection fee. Every month, they issue a check to the unions. But the union don’t really exist. They don’t have negotiating rights. Because if they do exist, they could not allow 80 percent, 70 percent of their employees to be contract staff.”

*Says in 5 years, 3 million metric tons per annum facility to make country biggest agric nation in Africa *Oshiomhole: I prefer Dangote Refinery’s monopoly to petrol importation Chuks Okocha in

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AGF Fagbemi: Technology in Justice Not Luxury, But Necessity

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has underscored the transformative role of technology in the legal system, describing it as a necessity for ensuring swift, accurate, and accessible justice.

He made the remarks at the Distinguished Alumni Lecture of the University of Jos, delivered by him, titled ‘The Nigerian Justice System in a Digital Age: Opportunities, Challenges and the Road Ahead’.

At the Lecture, which attracted a cross-section of eminent personalities from the legal and academic communities, Fagbemi recalled that the turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Chief Justice of Nigeria introduced practice directions for virtual hearings.

He said that since then some state judiciaries have adopted innovations such as e-filing and digital cause lists, while others still rely on traditional paper processes.

According to him, the legal profession is gradually embracing a hybrid model where physical and virtual processes complement each other.

“The lesson is clear: technology in justice is not a luxury but a necessity in today’s interconnected world. However, its adoption must be deliberate, inclusive, and rooted in the core values of justice. Nigeria must not copy blindly, but adopt wisely,” the Attorney General emphasised.

In his remarks at the event, the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, called on the people of the state to come out en masse and give a rousing welcome to President Bola Tinubu, who will be visiting the state on Saturday (today) for the burial ceremony of the late mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.

The governor stressed the importance of unity, peace, and harmony in advancing the development of the state and Nigeria.

He said, “Tomorrow, we will be receiving Mr. President in Jos, Plateau State, as he comes to honour our late mother, the mother of my dear brother, the National Chairman of the APC. I am confident that Plateau people will give Mr. President a warm and rousing welcome. I believe that his visit will afford him a deeper appreciation of Plateau and its people.”

He reiterated his conviction that Plateau State remains one of the best places to live in Nigeria, endowed with rich human and natural resources yet to be fully harnessed.

“We cannot realise our full potential if we continue to pull one another down. We must remain our brothers’ keepers and work collectively to bring Plateau to the place of honour that God has destined for us,” he remarked.

Mutfwang also commended Fagbemi for delivering a thought-provoking lecture, describing him as a “fountain of knowledge.”

He noted that the lecture, presented with a blend of practical experience and deep reflection, offered valuable insights into how technology is shaping justice delivery in Nigeria.

He appealed to the Attorney General to support the advancement of competent and patriotic alumni of the University of Jos into leadership positions at the national level, while urging the university to extend a hand of mentorship to Plateau State University, Bokkos, where he serves as visitor.

Also speaking, Senator representing Plateau South, Simon Bako Lalong, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, expressed appreciation to the Attorney General for honouring the institution with his lecture, describing him as an accomplished legal practitioner whose purposeful service has shaped governance in Nigeria and beyond.

Lalong assured that the Senate is very concerned about the impact of the digital age on the Justice system and will continue to make laws that will enable the nation to harness the opportunities and respond to the challenges that come with it for the good of all.

The Vice Chancellor said that the University of Jos is proud of Chief Lateef Fagbemi not only as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, but for his impact and achievements in the legal profession where he became the first product of the University law graduate who attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has underscored the transformative role of technology in the legal system, describing it

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Conservative Anglicans Kick as Church of England Names First Female Archbishop of Canterbury

.She will be installed in March 2026

.Anglican church in Nigeria meets next week

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja with agency report

The Church of England yesterday named Sarah Mullally the next Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to serve as ceremonial head of Anglican Christianity worldwide, prompting immediate criticism from conservative church leaders in Africa, who argue that it undermines biblical authority and ecclesiastical order.

Orthodox group of the Anglican communion comprising 80 per cent of Anglicans worldwide, including the Church of Nigeria under the auspices Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), expressed displeasure over the appointment.

A bishop in the Nigerian Anglican Church said the choice was “very dangerous” because women should follow men. The Church of England’s evangelical wing also called for a halt to what it called a drift away from scripture.

The 63-year-old bishop, who once served as England’s top nurse, would, like her predecessors, face a Communion divided between conservatives and more liberal Christians over the role of women in the church and the acceptance of same-sexA couples.

While the appointment was welcomed by many religious leaders in Britain, Laurent Mbanda, archbishop of Rwanda and chairman of a global grouping of conservative Anglican churches, told Reuters that Mullally would not unite the Communion.

Bishop of London since 2018, Mullally has previously championed blessings for same-sex couples, a major source of contention in the global Anglican Communion. Homosexuality is outlawed in some African countries.

In an address in Canterbury Cathedral yesterday, she said she would seek to help every ministry to flourish, “whatever our tradition”.

On same-sex relationships, she told Reuters in an interview that the Church of England and the broader Anglican Communion had long wrestled with difficult issues.

“It may not be resolved quickly,” she added.

Mullally said she wanted the Church to tackle the misuse of power after sexual abuse scandals and safeguarding issues, and she condemned rising antisemitism following an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday which killed two men.

The Church of England, which broke away from Roman Catholicism in the 16th century, has allowed women to be ordained as priests for more than 30 years and to become bishops for more than a decade.

Those reforms have been rejected by many churches in Africa and Asia which fall under the Anglican Communion and consider the Archbishop of Canterbury as their ceremonial head but set their own rules.

“Christ is the head of the Church, man is the head of the family, and from creation God has never handed over the position of leadership to woman,” Nigeria’s Funkuro Godrules Victor Amgbare, Bishop of Northern Izon, told Reuters in Abuja.

The Vatican, which does not allow women to be ordained as priests, welcomed Mullally’s appointment in a statement, noting that the challenges facing the Anglican church were “considerable”.

Mullally will replace Justin Welby, who resigned over a child abuse cover-up scandal and who was criticised by some Anglicans for taking an activist role on social issues.

In yesterday’s cathedral address, she spoke of the difficulties of an age which “craves certainty and tribalism” and a country which is wrestling with complex moral and political questions.

She noted the “horrific violence” of the previous day’s synagogue attack, saying it revealed “hatred that rises up through fractures across our communities”.

Mullally is a former cancer nurse who worked as England’s Chief Nursing Officer in the early 2000s. She was ordained as a priest in 2002 and became one of the first women consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England in 2015.

The married mother of two adult children said there were similarities between nursing and Christian ministry.

“It’s all about people, and sitting with people during the most difficult times in their lives,” she once told a magazine.

Linda Woodhead, professor of theology and religious studies at King’s College London, said the Church needed Mullally’s strong management skills.

“Her emphasis on unity, gentleness and strength is exactly what the Church, and nation, needs right now,” she said.

Reflecting the Church’s status as England’s established faith, the appointment was announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office and given formal assent by King Charles. The monarch has been supreme governor of the Church of England for nearly 500 years since Henry VIII broke from the pope in Rome.

David Pestell, 74, who heads a tourist guide group in Canterbury, reflected on Mullally’s predecessors.

“Some of them have been very good, some of them have been pretty bad,” he said. “Some of them have been very contentious, and some of them ended up murdered. I hope it doesn’t happen to this one. It’s delightful.”

Orthodox group, under the auspices Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), expressed displeasure over the appointment of a female – Dame Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Gafcon is a communion of conservative Anglican churches, aligned with the Confessing Movement, that was formed in 2008 in response to ongoing theological disputes in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Although the Anglican Church in Nigeria had yet to respond formally to the development, the Director of Information, Mr. Akintunde Korede, said the leadership of the Anglican Church in Nigeria would most likely align with the position of Gafcon.

Korede, who spoke to THISDAY yesterday, said the Anglican Church of Nigeria, received the information about the appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury and would convene a meeting next week after which it will make its position public.

However, in a statement signed by Chairman, Gafcon Primates Council, The Most Reverend Dr. Laurent Mbanda, the church leaders rejected the emergence of Dame Sarah Mullallyas new Archbishop of Canterbury, saying the appointment has further alienated Anglicans globally.

They said the new Archbishop cannot provide leadership to the Anglican Communion.

They also accused the new Archbishop of supporting same-sex relationships and that such relationships could be blessed.

The statement issued yesterday, added: “The news has finally arrived after months of prayer and long waiting. But it is with sorrow that Gafcon receives the announcement today of the appointment of Dame Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. This appointment abandons global Anglicans, as the Church of England has chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion.

“For over a century and a half, the Archbishop of Canterbury functioned not only as the Primate of All England but also as a spiritual and moral leader of the Anglican Communion. In more recent times, the See of Canterbury has been described as one of the four “Instruments of Communion,” whilst also chairing the other three Instruments, namely the Lambeth Conference, the Primates Meeting and the Anglican Consultative Council.

“However, due to the failure of successive Archbishops of Canterbury to guard the faith, the office can no longer function as a credible leader of Anglicans, let alone a focus of unity. As we made clear in our Kigali Commitment of 2023, we can “no longer recognise the Archbishop of Canterbury as an Instrument of Communion” or the “first among equals” of global Primates.

“We had hoped that the Church of England would take this into due consideration as it deliberated over the choice of a new Archbishop of Canterbury and would choose someone who could bring unity to a divided Anglican Communion. Sadly, they have not done so.

“Though there are some who will welcome the decision to appoint Bishop Mullally as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, the majority of the Anglican Communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy. Therefore, her appointment will make it impossible for the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve as a focus of unity within the Communion.

“However, more concerning is her failure to uphold her consecration vows. When she was consecrated in 2015, she took an oath to “banish and drive away all strange and erroneous doctrine contrary to God’s Word.” And yet, far from banishing such doctrine, Bishop Mullally has repeatedly promoted unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.”

Gafcon further accused the new Archbishop of failure to uphold her consecration vows, adding that when she took an oath to “banish and drive away all strange and erroneous doctrine contrary to God’s Word.”

.She will be installed in March 2026 .Anglican church in Nigeria meets next week Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja with agency report The Church of England yesterday named Sarah Mullally the next Archbishop

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Ex-IG, Solomon Arase, Buried in Benin

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The remains of former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Solomon Arase, has been interred in Benin City, capital of Edo State.

Arase was buried at a private ceremony witnessed by family members and close associates after a funeral mass was held at the St. Paul Catholic Church.

In his homily during the requiem mass, Reverend Father Andrew Obiyan, urged the congregation to work towards making heaven after death.

Obiyan said people would want to go everywhere on earth but refused to go to the House of God.

He expressed disappointment at the attitude of some humans towards donating for the work of God.

According to him, “Our own life is in heaven. We must never be distracted. We now see old age creeping into our lives daily powerfully. It crept in to remind us of immortality. We study so hard to receive so many titles. At death, those titles mean nothing to God. The only title that means so much is a grace of battle.

“We have the assurance that Arase will reap the fruit of baptism in the presence of the eternal King.

“Sometimes we go everywhere but we don’t want to go to the House of God except when we want to please people. We do not want not to come to the House of God.

“Late Arase feared and loved God. Policing is a profession with risk. We see soaring crime rate yet many police officers are exemplary.

“We give glory to God for Arase’s getting to the peak of his career. The Lord does not take from you what he cannot give.”

Also speaking, Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, said the late Arase was of great service to the nation.

“Moments like this are for us to know that one day we will lie down like this. We should be humble to serve our state and country to the best of our ability. All about him are great and good testament. From his professionalism and service to the country, his relationship with the rest of society marked his humility and spreading love everywhere he goes.”

Dignitaries at the event were Governor Monday Okpebholo represented by his Deputy, Dennis Idahosa; former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, represented by Chief Oseni Elamah and Chief Uso Osaretin, the Usoh of Benin Kingdom; FRSC Zone 5 Commander, Stella Orakwe; Secretary to the Police Service Commission, Onyeabuchi Nnamani; Senator Neda Imasuen, amongst others.

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The remains of former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Solomon Arase, has been interred in Benin City, capital of Edo State. Arase was buried at a private

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Stakeholders: Nigeria’s Power Sector Still Struggling Despite Reforms

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Stakeholders in the power sector yesterday agreed that despite reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), the sector has continued to struggle, barely able to take half of total capacity to Nigerian homes.

Delivering his lecture at the 29th edition of the October Lecture Series of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Abuja, a former President of the Society, Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, maintained that Nigeria’s electricity sector remains far from achieving the goals set out in the 2005 reform law, despite nearly two decades of policy changes and privatisation.

Gidari-Wudil’s paper was titled: ‘Total Challenges Facing Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa: The Transformation of Our Power Sector’. The paper examined the reforms between 2005 and 2023, highlighting the gains, setbacks, and lessons for future policy.

He noted that Nigeria’s installed capacity grew from 6,000 megawatts in 2005 to over 13,000 megawatts by 2023, but average generation remained below 50 per cent of capacity due to gas shortages, transmission bottlenecks, and inefficiencies across the value chain.

According to him, persistent infrastructural gaps, financial unsustainability, and consumer dissatisfaction continue to undermine progress in the sector.

“Reform is a long-term process requiring sustained commitment beyond political cycles,” he said, adding that strong regulatory institutions, transparent tariffs, and meaningful stakeholder engagement are crucial if Nigeria hopes to meet its power needs.

In an interview after the lecture, Gidari-Wudil stressed that progress has been slow and far below expectations. He blamed political interference, regulatory weaknesses, and government failures as key setbacks.

“It’s not as significant as envisaged by the crafters of the policy in 2000 and the law in 2005. By now, according to the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, we should have been far beyond 30,000 megawatts.

“The initial buyers of the utilities were given service-level agreements, but the government failed to deliver on its part. The companies also failed, leading to market shortfalls now running into trillions of naira,” he explained.

The engineer also pointed to deep-rooted issues within distribution companies, including collusion by staff in illegal connections and meter bypassing. “If the distribution companies look inward and fix their internal leakages, especially collection failures, a lot will change,” he added.

Earlier in her welcome address, the President of the NSE, Margaret Oguntala, said the lecture coincided with Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, a time for reflection and renewed hope.

“As engineers, we believe these are not abstract problems. They are real, technical and solvable challenges and we must rise to the occasion. Governments at all levels must more deliberately engage Nigerian engineers to proffer practical, scalable and homegrown solutions,” she said.

She noted that the October Lecture Series was designed to articulate the Society’s position on critical national issues, promote engineering’s visibility in national discourse, and highlight the expertise of past presidents of the NSE.

Also speaking, Sahara Power Group’s Group Managing Director, Kola Adesina, represented by the company’s Head of Generation, Godwin Emmanuel, noted that while the sector had recorded gains since 2005, including growth in installed generation to over 13,000MW, expansion of transmission capacity, and improved governance frameworks, actual supply to the grid still averaged below 5,000MW, far short of national demand.

“These realities remind us that while reform has set the stage and delivered measurable progress, much work remains to translate capacity into reliable supply,” he said.

He outlined three priorities for the next phase of reforms, which are: Cost-reflective tariffs to ensure liquidity and sustainability, grid modernisation to strengthen reliability, and accelerated integration of renewables into Nigeria’s energy mix.

“The power sector remains both Nigeria’s greatest challenge and its greatest opportunity. If we get power right, every other sector from agriculture to digital services will flourish,” Adesina added.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Stakeholders in the power sector yesterday agreed that despite reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), the sector has continued to struggle, barely able to take

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Norwegian Diplomats Hail Nigeria’s World Class Art Work

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Diplomats from the Norway Embassy, Abuja, have rated Nigeria’s art works as world class.

The Consul and Counsellor of the Norway Embassy, Saul Novichyan and Sol Solveig made the assessment at the ‘Canvas of Identity, Resilience, and Renewed Hope’ exhibition organised by the National Gallery of Arts as part of 65th Nigerian Independence Celebration in Abuja.

Solveig said she was always amazed at the diversity of all the art from Nigeria in addition to the many gifted people in the industry.

“I think here in Nigeria, you find the very best. It’s just amazing, so good. I’m really impressed by the people here. So many really good artists. And beautiful work that is of high quality,” Solveig said.

The diplomat said she had been visiting several arts galleries in Nigeria since she arrived in the country last year, singling out the Nike Art Gallery for recognition.

She urged Nigerian artists to continue with what they were doing, as they were on the top on the international level.

On his part, Novichyan commended the exceptional quality of Nigerian art works and the impressive talent demonstrated by local artists.

He stressed that Nigerian art had reached an international standard, reflecting the creativity and skill inherent in the country’s artistic community.

He also advised them to continue their current artistic pursuits, noting that their work was already competitive on the global stage.

In his remarks, the Director General of National Gallery of Arts, Ahmed Sodangi, noted that the canvas of identity, resilience and renewed hope was a story about the current state of Nigerians as a resilient people who should dream bigger and have more creativity.

He added that the National Gallery was trying to incentivise the system by fostering the art business in Nigeria because it is one of the things that is mostly neglected.

“One thing that is very, very important is to look at the value chain. And because we have a lot of artists, art is a profession. So what we are trying to do in terms of improving the lives of Nigerians, particularly the artists, is look at the value chain and see how we can improve on it.

“And we all know around the world that the art industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. So one of the things the National Gallery is doing is improving the value chain, looking at the artworks as products, giving them certifications that will add to the base value,” Sodangi said.

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Diplomats from the Norway Embassy, Abuja, have rated Nigeria’s art works as world class. The Consul and Counsellor of the Norway Embassy, Saul Novichyan and Sol Solveig made the

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Kano Governor Writes NSA, Seeks State Commissioner of Police Removal

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The crisis between the Kano State Government and the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, has taken a new turn as the state government has written a formal complaint letter to the office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, against the CP.

During the 65th Independence Day celebration, Governor Yusuf accused the CP of boycotting the national parade, an action he described as “unacceptable, and a betrayal of the trust of both the people and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I therefore, wish to seize the opportunity to call on the President, whom we know as no nonsense man. to remove the commissioner of Police from Kano today.

“On behalf of all of you I am writing a petition against him through the office of the National Security Adviser for onward submission to president of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the governor stated.

However, the police chief did not comment on the allegations, but a top police source familiar with the issue explained that the matter went beyond the parade, as it was already public knowledge that the Independence Day parade had been cancelled.

He alleged that the state governor has long neglected the police and other security agencies in the state, citing examples of how he clashed with three past Commissioners of Police during his two years in office.

He further alleged that the governor has consistently ignored the police command, failing to respond to courtesy visit letters from the Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), and neglecting Security Council meetings, instead sending a junior special adviser on security.

Barely 24 hours after the governor’s allegations, protests erupted in two different locations, led by Barrister Nafisa Abba Isma’il, Chairlady of the Women Lawyers Congress, who attributed the state’s current insecurity to the government’s neglect of security agencies.

The protest followed a press conference led by a coalition of civil society groups known as Kano Agenda, which demanded an immediate investigation into the police withdrawal during the Independence Day celebration and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano The crisis between the Kano State Government and the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, has taken a new turn as the state government has written a formal complaint letter to the

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BAP’s ‘Fela & The Kalakuta Queens’ Musical Thrills Audience as National Theatre Roars Back to Life

The National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, roared back to life on Monday October 1, 2025 after a few years of renovation and refurbishment.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, together with his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, led a rich array of dignitaries from the government, corporate sector and the creative industries to unveil the new-look premier home of the arts as a symbolic occasion to also celebrate Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary.

The magnificent edifice and cultural institutions have now been rechristened by the federal government the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts as a fitting tribute to the respected Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, whose literary and theatrical contribution to the development of theatre, literature and film is immeasurable.

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The three-hour unveiling event was laced with rich set of performances, of which the command performance of the popular musical, ‘Fela And The Kalakuta Queens’ stood out, thrilling the audience with its stellar cast, great acting, and spectacular dance routine, all laced with a few evergreen songs by the legendary King of Afrobeat music, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

Although it was a teaser showpiece that lasted for just half an hour, the performance added unmistakable colour to the unveiling event, especially given that it came just before the speeches by the Central Bank Governor, Mr. Yemi Cardoso and President Tinubu.

Directed by the multiple award-winning theatre and film director, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens chronicles the life and times of the late legendary musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, from birth to his trajectory as a defiant and uncompromising social activist, a flamboyant musical maestro as well as his historic marriage to his 27 wives (known as the Queens).

“The story of Fela and his Kalakuta Queens is as compelling, as it is deeply moving and emotionally engaging, and we are happy that it was selected as part of the performances to bring back to life the famed National Arts Theatre,” said Mrs. Austen-Peters.

The play travels through the honest and selfless love the Afrobeat icon had with his dancers (Queens) who left their homes to follow him, believing in his vision of building a better community through arts and music.

The musical also explores the lives of those women who constituted an integral part of Fela’s band and gives a unique insight into the interplay of gender and power relations at Fela’s famous Kalakuta Republic. It also showcases their unique fashion, dance and African identity, while unmasking common misconceptions about them.

In his remarks, Dr. Cardoso said it was a “huge one” to be delivering his speech right after the performance of ‘Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, given the energy it oozed and the applause it received.

President Tinubu also commended the evening’s rich performances, adding unequivocally that “I’m impressed and I’ve enjoyed myself.”

The historic unveiling of the refurbished theatre is not lost on Austen-Peters, who is the founder of Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions (BAP), which produced the musical and Terra Kulture Arena in Lagos.

“It is a historic day for all of us in the creative sector, to have been selected for this landmark unveiling, on a day that Nigeria clocks 65, while having in the audience the No1, No 3 and Number 4 citizens of the country, among several other dignitaries.

“All the performances added colour and glamour to this event. This is a clear message that the creative sector has been blessed with another set of world-class venues that will enhance creativity. We are grateful that ‘Fela and the Kalakuta Queens was part of those that successfully relaunched this main auditorium into the hearts of Nigerians,” she said.

Following a successful premiere in Lagos in 2017, Fela and The Kalakuta Queens Musical has, without a doubt, become a sensation across the globe, having been performed in Pretoria, South Africa; Cairo, Egypt and Dubai, UAE.

“It is, therefore, a befitting play to reopen the newly renovated and restored National Arts Theatre,” said Joseph Umoibon, Producer of the musical.

Fela and the Kalakuta Queens will again hit the big stage of the Terra Kulture Arena from December 26th 2025 to Jan 12th 2026 as part of the ‘Detty December’ highlights.

The National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, roared back to life on Monday October 1, 2025 after a few years of renovation and refurbishment. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, together with his